I wonder:
The enormousness of the impact of religion is sometimes blithely attributed to a human fear of death and "what comes next." I don't know what things are like where anyone else lives, but around here there are myriad brick-and-mortar testaments to that sort of religion in one form or another.
What I wonder is this: Is it possible that the fear of death is nothing when compared with the twinkling understanding that the universe simply is unfazed and uninterested in my being and predicaments. A little soft-soaping is in order and religion is that soap. Something, however ineffable, cares as much as I do about me.
Only as time passes, the proofs mount that that hope or assertion is simply not the case. Bruisingly asserted, the world simply does not give a shit and that recognition is so painful and so lonely that a comforting comforter of some sort arises like crab grass. Religion becomes a bulwark beyond the ostensible bulwark that holds death's fears at bay.
I wonder.
If I care, is it possible to arm-wrestle the universe into caring too?
Nope.
PS. "Not giving a shit" is not intended here as a snarky or critical remark. Rather, it is the suggestion that the universe simply isn't built that way any more than a pound of cheese would be expected to ride a unicycle. It isn't built that way.
The enormousness of the impact of religion is sometimes blithely attributed to a human fear of death and "what comes next." I don't know what things are like where anyone else lives, but around here there are myriad brick-and-mortar testaments to that sort of religion in one form or another.
What I wonder is this: Is it possible that the fear of death is nothing when compared with the twinkling understanding that the universe simply is unfazed and uninterested in my being and predicaments. A little soft-soaping is in order and religion is that soap. Something, however ineffable, cares as much as I do about me.
Only as time passes, the proofs mount that that hope or assertion is simply not the case. Bruisingly asserted, the world simply does not give a shit and that recognition is so painful and so lonely that a comforting comforter of some sort arises like crab grass. Religion becomes a bulwark beyond the ostensible bulwark that holds death's fears at bay.
I wonder.
If I care, is it possible to arm-wrestle the universe into caring too?
Nope.
PS. "Not giving a shit" is not intended here as a snarky or critical remark. Rather, it is the suggestion that the universe simply isn't built that way any more than a pound of cheese would be expected to ride a unicycle. It isn't built that way.
Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteI found it to be another of your cringeworthy takes on whatever you take as “religion.”
Don’t feel bad (or good).
One’s approach to “religion” is so very personal.
Mine will probably make you cringe or worse.
Of late you seem to need a certain kind of reassuring religious experience perhaps that of Universal Love as expressed in this song;
https://youtu.be/j03Fw9_JKxQ
Also in this song (with a bit of snark)
https://youtu.be/4EGczv7iiEk
But.... How does one actually find / feel / experience Universal Love?
In your case you seem to go further, you ask “Why do I have to exert any effort to be embraced by Universal Love?”
I can’t respond to any of it with any certainty.
Catholic Mystics, various Yoga Adepts, and Accomplished Taoists, Buddhists speak of Sitting in Silence. That is about as effortless as I can conceive. Personally I find this too requires some effort. Sorry.
As for my approach, I would like to join with those who by inclination or training approach things, even religion with analysis. Some attempt to identify and analyze the components of various religions. Others go so far to have conceived of a Philosophy of Religion.
See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_religion?wprov=sfti1
Further I personally believe one’s sense of and need of the elements of religion changes over time as one develops psychologically and as one encounters this or that in living.
There are certainly other approaches.
I wonder if there are many good, affordable philosophically inclined therapists out there these days.
“...the universe simply is unfazed and uninterested in my being and predicaments.”
ReplyDeleteWithin the wider context of understanding religion and religious beliefs it dawned on me why I found such s comment cringeworthy.
You use a rather negative and disparaging style of argumentation.
You assume (without stating but correctly) that “some” use an anthropomorphic view of the universe. A view you hint that you also hold. Then when _you_ fail to find evidence of the universe’s anthropomorphic (caring) behavior you seem to trash the believers not simply the beliefs.
Sometimes believers “find” something of what they look for even as others standing right next to them don’t.
Think of it this way:
Sunrise on the Beach.
A family brings their young child. He is laughing and very excited splashing and looking for little shells.
The young lovers are tired but joyfully greet the new day, after a passionate evening.)
The homeless and woman can’t stand the sand and is hungry and couldn’t give a shit about sunrise.
The problem and the joy is not in the sun, the ocean or the sand.
The universe cares through its agents, you, me, social workers, police, journalists, politicians, etc., etc.
Some find that their religious beliefs help with this.